Masked teen-ager robs store in early-morning incident

A masked teen-ager, who held his hand close to his body to indicate he had a handgun, escaped after robbing the New Windsor High's store early yesterday, state police reported.

Officers said a 17- to 19-year-old youth entered the store in the 2800 block of New Windsor Road about 2:37 a.m., approached the clerk and demanded money from the register and the safe.

When the clerk told the assailant he could not open the safe, the robber scooped cash from the register and ran from the shop.

The clerk told police the man was wearing a dark hooded sweat shirt with the hood over his head and a blue-and-white bandanna that covered the lower part of his face.

Officers reported they found the sweat shirt on Church Street near the store and searched the area with police dogs without success. They said the robber could have escaped in a vehicle on Church Street south of the store.

The victim said the robber took $21 from the register. No one was injured.

Anyone with information on the robbery should call Tfc. John Reininger at 876-8989.